Stella success as Star trio win year’s ticket to busk on Tube

Blues and jazz band Stella Star have been crowned the capital’s most talented young music act.

The grand final of Gigs Big Busk, organised by Mayor Boris Johnson, took place yesterday at Westfield in Shepherd’s Bush after 1,800 entries were whittled down to 18 by a summer of heats. Three-piece band Stella Star, from Enfield, won the group category and were overall winners, gaining a year’s licence to busk on the Tube.

Lead singer Stella Charalambous, 23, said: “I’ve been playing with the band for a year. We haven’t busked before. We now want to take the band as far as it can go.”

Saxophone player Sam Barnett, aged 12, from Lewisham won the youth category and singer Martin Luke Brown, 20, from Hounslow, was first in the soloists and duos competition.